Useful Searches

I hope this is not too personal a question. And IF you choose to answer, you certainly dont have to go into details as to what is the worst you have faced in life. I would say tinnitus is not the worst thing to ever happen to me, but it is the most bizarre and unique hurdle I have had to face in life. We all might have difficulties in life like at school or at work, but I never imagined there would be a sound in my ears that doesnt go away. I guess the answer to this question also depends on our views on life, and how "good" life was before tinnitus developed. For example, I asked another tinnitus sufferer if having T was the worst thing that ever happened to him. His reply was "being born was the worst thing that happened to him" OUCH! I guess he had a negative view of his life to start with.

I've had a lot of bad stuff to deal with in life but yes, this is the worst. With other bad stuff you can be in pain and get over it as time passes and you leave it in the past. With T its ever-present, to me there's no 'getting over it' as its always current. I've never had fear and panic like I have now and I've never had anything that's stopped me working.

Consciously diverting focus to the positives in life is my only recourse on days when the T is overwhelming and no coping strategies are working. I mean, if T is "the worst thing that has ever happened to you," I'd call that a privileged, protected, and definitely fortunate overall existance! How can anyone possibly compare it to real tragedy or truly chronic, debilitating disease or injury? We're all still functioning pretty well, particularly if one looks honestly at the truly unfortunate. Tinnitus sucks, but Life's Good. It's all about perspective.

Yes. Emphatically - yes. And no, I have not been sheltered. Tinnitus has played havoc with my psyche and emotions. I can still function but have a great deal of anxiety. Now, will it be the worst thing to ever happen to me? I really don't know. As long as one is alive there is always the potential for something worse although I can't envision what at this time. I still have a hard time believing I have this affliction. I am having a harder time accepting it. That's my perspective.

Yes, Definitely. It makes life miserable, to say the least. If there was a end to this "prison" it would be different. But after reading my own statement, I almost feel worse. I have to keep my hopes up though, because if we dwell on the negative it will spiral out of control.

It is better to remain silent and thought a fool than to speak up and remove all doubt--Author unknown

Perhaps. Up until I had gotten tinnitus, the worst thing that had ever happened to me was a serious episode of depression, ten years ago. Kind of like comparing apples and oranges, though.

I am hoping to deal with tinnitus so that is not a factor in my life. To "dignify finnitus" by saying it tops my list, allows tinnitus to defeat me. I want to beat it in any way that I can. The objective is to ignore it and not listen to it.

There are people who come to terms with tinnitus, who have learned to ignore it, who don't think about it for long periods. Through neuroplasticity, the brain can circumvent this situation.

But to constantly listen to it, and think about how bad it is, and how it "tops the list"only reinforces it's place of importance in our thinking. It's counter productive to fall into that habit.

It is the worse thing that has ever happen to me. I feel things has happen because of tinnitus. Because of Tinnitus I went into a shell. I really think if I had not got this my son would still be here. I would have been able to pay more attention to him. It just makes me feel not normal.

Perhaps. Up until I had gotten tinnitus, the worst thing that had ever happened to me was a serious episode of depression, ten years ago. Kind of like comparing apples and oranges, though.

I am hoping to deal with tinnitus so that is not a factor in my life. To "dignify finnitus" by saying it tops my list, allows tinnitus to defeat me. I want to beat it in any way that I can. The objective is to ignore it and not listen to it.

There are people who come to terms with tinnitus, who have learned to ignore it, who don't think about it for long periods. Through neuroplasticity, the brain can circumvent this situation.

But to constantly listen to it, and think about how bad it is, and how it "tops the list"only reinforces it's place of importance in our thinking. It's counter productive to fall into that habit.

Consciously diverting focus to the positives in life is my only recourse on days when the T is overwhelming and no coping strategies are working. I mean, if T is "the worst thing that has ever happened to you," I'd call that a privileged, protected, and definitely fortunate overall existance! How can anyone possibly compare it to real tragedy or truly chronic, debilitating disease or injury? We're all still functioning pretty well, particularly if one looks honestly at the truly unfortunate. Tinnitus sucks, but Life's Good. It's all about perspective.

Click to expand...

Sorry Paul but I find this post very offensive. I have certainly not had a 'privileged, protected, and definitely fortunate overall existance!' I find it really rude and small minded of you to suggest that. In addition how do you know that 'we' are still functioning pretty well? You know nothing of our lives and the destruction tinnitus has wrought on them. Speak for yourself and not others on here. My life is certainly no longer 'good', I am unable to work and unable to pay my mortgage and will shortly lose my house. And regarding "How can anyone possibly compare it to real tragedy or truly chronic, debilitating disease or injury?" Even mainstream literature on tinnitus describes that it can be 'debilitating' and 'disabling'. Maybe you just have a very mild case of T.

It's all about perspective as long as it isn't debilitating or your only thought day in, day out.

Tinnitus is truly debilitating for about 1-2% of all of those experiencing chronic tinnitus, I faintly remember reading. That's an estimate.

What if somebody senses a fire truck's siren in their head 24/7?

And can't major depressive disorder be a debilitating, tragic and chronic condition? Or other psychological conditions? (Many of which has to do with neurotransmitters etc.)?

I mean... it's NOT POSSIBLE to grade any other's tinnitus based solely on one's own experience. Tinnitus is such a complicated condition and how everyone manages with it varies a lot. Some have it worse than others for starters, and who knows how differently each brain handles the noise.

As a general rule it's fine to say to newcomers that it will get better and it's not the end of the world, as that is the case for >95%.

But the minority who not only suffer from it but for whom tinnitus has become a life-threatening condition, they cannot understand - nor should they be expected to - how tinnitus isn't a chronic, debilitating ailment.

I think you meant good by your post, for sure, but it sounded to me a bit like belittling tinnitus - which can be tormenting, chronic, debilitating and tragic all at the same! It's wonderful for the majority it isn't, but for some it unarguably is.

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. — Barack Obama

I surely don't mean to offend, Louise. As Markku says, "I mean... it's NOT POSSIBLE to grade any other's tinnitus based solely on one's own experience." And from reading your posts the last few months, I do believe that in your case T is indeed debilitating; it's obvious you've been searching desparately both far and wide for some sort of relief. Personally, and I do mean to speak only from my own experience, the only way I have in dealing with the really, really bad days or weeks and remain sane is to compare the condition with those much worse off than myself. It's not that difficult to see that those living in total squalor, suffering from a myriad of diseases and extreme hardship, are much worse off than I. Not to mention those living under repressive regimes for a lifetime with no way out. There are a lot of people out there with terminal illnesses who somehow manage to celebrate the gifts they receive on a daily basis. Now that's inspiration.

It's very difficult to say what the worst thing that has happened is - it's often too difficult to compare things that are so different. I replied earlier that tinnitus isn't the worst because of my son being born early & in special care for nearly 4 months but tinnitus is the worst thing that has happened directly to me.

Paul, I agree with Louise. Unfortunately the way that you have phrased these posts could cause real offence. Even in your last post above, although you have been careful to say that you mean to speak from your own experience, the last three sentences once again sound judgemental...as though we should be thinking in this way..

"Not to mention those living under repressive regimes for a lifetime with no way out. There are a lot of people out there with terminal illnesses who somehow manage to celebrate the gifts they receive on a daily basis. Now that's inspiration."

I'm glad that it helps you and that it is your inspiration but perhaps if your T was louder or different, then thinking of others in this way wouldn't help you much either.

One day loud, next day gone - wakes me up at 5am & then lets me sleep all night. What the hell?

When I first got T it was the worst thing that has ever happened to me yes, I just didn't know how I was ever going to carrying on living like this when its bad its bad but one day my Zumba instructor mentioned acupuncture so I decided to give it a go, I went with a open mind I used to go twice a week I now go once a month it hasn't taken it away but it makes me feel so go and helps me deal with it this is something I will keep up, its good to talk to people who have it and that helps because you don't feel like your the only person in the world with it and they understand how you feel you just need to find something to help you cope with it as well, believe me I hate T more than anything in this world and I know there are people with a lot worse than me but god it can drive you insane at times, but thank god for acupuncture it really has helped me and made me feel happy again

When I first got T it was the worst thing that has ever happened to me yes, I just didn't know how I was ever going to carrying on living like this when its bad its bad but one day my Zumba instructor mentioned acupuncture so I decided to give it a go, I went with a open mind I used to go twice a week I now go once a month it hasn't taken it away but it makes me feel so go and helps me deal with it this is something I will keep up, its good to talk to people who have it and that helps because you don't feel like your the only person in the world with it and they understand how you feel you just need to find something to help you cope with it as well, believe me I hate T more than anything in this world and I know there are people with a lot worse than me but god it can drive you insane at times, but thank god for acupuncture it really has helped me and made me feel happy again

Click to expand...

Hi Sue,

I've been having acupuncture too. The lady did say it doesnt have great results for T but for anxiety & panic it does. I really liked the sessions and felt much more relaxed when I had them but it never lasted even one day

To be fair minded to some people this will of course be the worst thing that has happened to them and I can understand that and yet to others they are able to find some way of coping. As for myself even though it overwhelms me and |I simply wish it would go away it is not the worst thing that has happened to me.....other health issues have been far greater and personal tragedy`s. Good question....puts everything in perspective for me.

Worst thing YES.
There are other worse things but right now, I would rather take cancer over this.
Because with cancer there is no wait a year and see if shit happens.
You die or you get through it at the very least you can do stuff about cancer, I can't do shit about Tinnitus, If it worked I would take radiation for this.
I would take anything for this because it's not the Tinnitus that bothers me it's the little shit that comes with it (Hyperacusis,Sensitivity to sounds,Misophonia and more).
My problem is that now PC's and Copy Machines and TV's sometimes produce sounds that after a while I begin to hear, these are usually the sounds of Tinnitus kind ringing,static mostly.
It can go away after a while, but then again it may not which is what I hate.
It's one thing for a doctor to tell me 100% accurately hey you have cancer and you will die in 5 years, it's another to say you got 5 years of cancer it may get better or worse or nothing you just have to wait and see.
It's like an never ending cliffhanger.
I'm giving myself a year for this to leave well the sound sensitivity the Tinnitus is low and barely even a bother, but if my ears don't stop hearing beeps and rings and hisses and static from every electrical piece of equipment I don't know what I'll do.
Actually I do I just don't want my life to end that way.

Its hard to categorize this crap. T is an invasion of your private space.
Bad things happen in life. T is not life threatening but it is such an annoyance.
It took from me the most important part of my life, the good sleep.
I hate you T. You are not the worst but you are the most destructive B.

It's the worst thing that happend to me until this day....who knows what tomorrow brings......
I had a accident in traffic and I broke a leg and an arm and needed surgery on the other arm and also on my leg.
I lay on IC for 2 weeks.....it was bad....but at least it was silent....

The original poster said "bizarre and unique hurdle" and I think that is apt and a more hopeful way to phrase this. Although I'd place it a bit above that in terms of "life disruption."

It is not by a long shot however the worst thing that has happened to me. It is an ongoing condition to manage/accept and often hate. But I have a son with a profound disability that I can't imagine having all my life - and I think of other things too that trump this.

YEs the worst thing which has ever happend to me. I cannot sit down, lie down, eat, yawn, walk, move my head, bend down without the noise getting louder, it changes throughout the day. FOUR MONTHS AGO I HAD A GREAT LIFE. IT GETS SO LOUD WHEN I GO ANYWHERE THERE IS NOISE AND I GET DISTRAUGHT. WISH I HAD A MAGIC WAND. THIS CONDITION NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO THE PUBLIC S ATTENTION LIKE OTHER DESEASES. DURING THESE FOUR MONTHS I HAVE DISCOVERED THERE ARE DIFFERENT INTENSITIES AND IT IS NOT JUST A SMALL NOISE FOR SOME OF US.

Soon hitting the 1 year anniversary with t, I'll never forget the state of shock the first months and h added to the equation, ttts, next to that the limitations and how it took away my profession and loved hobby ever since.
But no, it is not the worst